U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmers to Families Food Box Program has distributed more than five million food boxes in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a news release, Secretary Perdue said the Farmers to Families Food Box Program was designed to put American farmers and distributors of all sizes back to work while supporting over-burdened food banks, community and faith-based organizations and other nonprofits serving Americans in need, and the program is doing just that. It’s encouraging to see the passion with which farmers, distributors and nonprofits have gone above and beyond to make this program work in support of the American people. Although a momentous milestone, this is only the beginning for the program, and with continued support we expect up to 40 million boxes will be delivered throughout the country by June 30.
Since the launch of the Farmers to Families Food Box, five million boxes have been successfully delivered to Americans most in need all across the country. Through this innovative program small and regional distributors are bringing back their workforce to procure food directly from American farmers and ranchers. Fresh food is getting to those in need, even in the hardest to reach places, through partnerships with food banks, nonprofits and faith-based communities, according to Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump.